Twenty-four years ago, in 2001, a newspaper front page featured a young 30-year-old Gani Adams with the headline: "How Gani Adams Was Captured."

Twenty-four years ago, in 2001, a newspaper front page featured a young 30-year-old Gani Adams with the headline: "How Gani Adams Was Captured."

From OPC leader to Generalissimo of Yorubaland, Chief Gani Adams' journey is a significant part of modern Yoruba history. In 2000, under ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, Adams was declared wanted by the police authorities for the alleged murder of Afolabi Amao, a divisional police officer at the Bariga police station in Lagos.

Gani Adams began his educational career at Army children's school in Otukpo, Benue state. But because of the nature of his father's job, they moved to lagos where he completed his primary education at Municipal Primary school in Surulere area of Lagos State in 1980. After his primary education, he proceeded to Ansar-Ud-deen Secondary School at Randle Avenue, Surulere. After his secondary education, he later went to train in furniture-making and interior decoration, which he completed in 1987.

Oodua Peoples Congress was formed in 1994 as a socio-cultural group to promote the Yoruba people and their culture. Although Gani was not a founding member of OPC, he was appointed the National Coordinator of the Oodua Peoples Congress, then rose to nationwide popularity after Inspector General of Police Musiliu Smith declared him wanted in 2000 with a financial reward of N100,000 for his group's involvement in violent clashes. He was ultimately arrested on 22 August 2001, but was later released after being held in prisons in Lagos, Abeokuta and Abuja.

Likening his imprisonment to that of Nelson Mandela and Obafemi Awolowo, who were both political prisoners, Adams in 2015 said his offence was fighting for the interest of the Yoruba.

Adams said his arrest and subsequent treatment by the police during the Obasanjo administration brought him to stardom.

The title of Aare Ona Kakanfo (Generalissimo) is one of the highest and most revered in Yoruba history. Traditionally, the Aare Ona Kakanfo was the supreme military commander of the Yoruba army, a position held by great warriors who defended the land in times of war.

Source: Nigeriahistory

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